Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia
We evaluated the potential of the European root-feeding moth <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i> as a biological control agent for the invasive weed <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> (oxeye daisy) in North America and Australia. The taxonomic proximity of the ornamental Shasta daisy (<...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/438 |
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| author | Sonja Stutz Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate Hariet L. Hinz Alec McClay Andrew J. McConnachie Urs Schaffner |
| author_facet | Sonja Stutz Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate Hariet L. Hinz Alec McClay Andrew J. McConnachie Urs Schaffner |
| author_sort | Sonja Stutz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We evaluated the potential of the European root-feeding moth <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i> as a biological control agent for the invasive weed <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> (oxeye daisy) in North America and Australia. The taxonomic proximity of the ornamental Shasta daisy (<i>Leucanthemum × superbum</i>) to <i>L. vulgare</i> and its popularity in North America made finding sufficiently host-specific biological control agents a challenge. No-choice tests conducted with 74 non-target species revealed partial or complete larval development on 11 species. In multiple-choice oviposition and larval development tests that were conducted in field cages, larvae were found on five of these, however in multiple-choice tests conducted under open-field conditions, larvae were only found on the ornamentals Shasta daisy and creeping daisy (<i>Mauranthemum paludosum</i>). Larval feeding by <i>D. aeratana</i> had no measurable impact on Shasta daisy, but larval feeding and plant competition reduced the biomass and number of flower heads of <i>L. vulgare</i>. We conclude that <i>D. aeratana</i> is a suitable biological control agent because it will not affect the ornamental value of Shasta or creeping daisies and because it is unlikely to feed on any other economically important or native species. We also expect <i>D. aeratana</i> to contribute to the suppression of <i>L. vulgare</i> populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:29:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5299736bd5b4d0bb78616ddb2252124 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:29:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5299736bd5b4d0bb78616ddb22521242023-11-21T19:23:49ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-05-0112543810.3390/insects12050438Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and AustraliaSonja Stutz0Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate1Hariet L. Hinz2Alec McClay3Andrew J. McConnachie4Urs Schaffner5CABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, SwitzerlandAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, 5403—1 Ave. S., Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, CanadaCABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland12 Roseglen Private, Ottawa, ON K1H 1B6, CanadaWeed Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Biosecurity and Food Safety, Orange, NSW 2800, AustraliaCABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, SwitzerlandWe evaluated the potential of the European root-feeding moth <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i> as a biological control agent for the invasive weed <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> (oxeye daisy) in North America and Australia. The taxonomic proximity of the ornamental Shasta daisy (<i>Leucanthemum × superbum</i>) to <i>L. vulgare</i> and its popularity in North America made finding sufficiently host-specific biological control agents a challenge. No-choice tests conducted with 74 non-target species revealed partial or complete larval development on 11 species. In multiple-choice oviposition and larval development tests that were conducted in field cages, larvae were found on five of these, however in multiple-choice tests conducted under open-field conditions, larvae were only found on the ornamentals Shasta daisy and creeping daisy (<i>Mauranthemum paludosum</i>). Larval feeding by <i>D. aeratana</i> had no measurable impact on Shasta daisy, but larval feeding and plant competition reduced the biomass and number of flower heads of <i>L. vulgare</i>. We conclude that <i>D. aeratana</i> is a suitable biological control agent because it will not affect the ornamental value of Shasta or creeping daisies and because it is unlikely to feed on any other economically important or native species. We also expect <i>D. aeratana</i> to contribute to the suppression of <i>L. vulgare</i> populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/438host-specificity testingimpact studiesox-eye daisyweed biological controlAsteraceaeTortricidae |
| spellingShingle | Sonja Stutz Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate Hariet L. Hinz Alec McClay Andrew J. McConnachie Urs Schaffner Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia Insects host-specificity testing impact studies ox-eye daisy weed biological control Asteraceae Tortricidae |
| title | Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia |
| title_full | Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia |
| title_fullStr | Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia |
| title_short | Host Range and Impact of <i>Dichrorampha aeratana</i>, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Leucanthemum vulgare</i> in North America and Australia |
| title_sort | host range and impact of i dichrorampha aeratana i the first potential biological control agent for i leucanthemum vulgare i in north america and australia |
| topic | host-specificity testing impact studies ox-eye daisy weed biological control Asteraceae Tortricidae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/438 |
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